Bookcase



Sept. 28, 1943.

C. H. W. FOSTER BOOKCASE Filed May 2, 1941 Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED smiths -ATENTY FFI BOOKCASE- Charles H. Foster, Marblehead, Mass. I Application May 2, 1941, s eli allNo. 391,537

1 Claim. (01. 312-34) ranged to assume an angle at which the books are presented conveniently and rendered more accessible. It is well known that in fioor-to-ceiling bookcases the lowermost books, substantially below the normal eye level, cannot be clearly seen nor removed and replaced without substantial stooping and bringing the eyes and body down to a level approaching the floor. The primary object of my invention resides in the production of a new and improved bookcase of this type in which all the books therein can be clearly viewed and conveniently removed and replaced from a normal position at the front of the bookcase.

I have observed that books are generally published in two sizes, octavo or duodecimo, i. e. roughly six inches by nine inches, or five inches by seven inches. The conventional bookcase is designed to accommodate octavos, and a great deal of space is wasted when a row of duodecimos is placed on a shelf.

One object of my invention is to provide a bookcase in which both tall and short books can be placed with the utmost economy of space, separate shelves being provided for the octavos and duodecimos.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bookcase having a lower section pivotally mounted to hang at an angle from the case to present a view of the books to one looking down from above. Thus, ina bookcase of substantial height the contents of the lowermost shelves can be observed without stooping.

An important feature of my invention consists in a staggered arrangement of wide and narrow shelves; shorter books can be carried on inner narrow shelves, while taller books are carried on the outer portions of wider shelves, the upper portions of the taller books overlapping the bottom portions of the shorter books.

These and other objects and features of my invention will more readily be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a bookcase constructed according to my invention, and.

carried by the side members I0.

.' Fig; 2isa view in cross-section along the line 2-2ofFig.'1..;

Two side members ID of plywood or other suitable material are "capped by a top shelf [2 and joined by a base I4. These members with a back member l8 of slightly thinner stock constitutes the stationary firm and rigid fram of the bookcase which is spaced from the floor by legs I6.

Each of the sides 10 is provided with three parallel rows of hole 20 which receive pegs 22 for supporting the shelves in the upper section of the bookcase. Carried by the pegs 22 are three shelves 24 equal in width to the width of the sides I0. I also provide three narrower shelves 26 disposed flush with the back l8 and interposed between pairs of wide shelves 24. e

I have shown a row of tall books 28, representing the octavo size, carried on one of the wide shelves 24 and a row of shorter books 30, representing the duodecimo size, carried on one of the inner narrower shelves 26. From an examination of Fig. 1 it will appear that the rows of books overlap somewhat, but the upper portions of the books 30 are plainly visible, and the titles thereof can be easily determined without disturbing any of the books. of the short books 30, the tall book directlyin front of it is first removed, thu permitting access to the desired book on the inner shelf. The overlapping arrangement is important because it saves height, and a bookcase constructed accord-e ing to my invention will accommodate more books than a conventional case of comparable height.

Within the main bookcase and below the shelves of its upper section is a hanging lower section which swings out by gravity on a rod 36 I The hanging section includes side members 38, a top 40, and a .back 44. A bottom shelf 42 i connected across the lower ends of the side members 38. Peg holes 46 are formed in parallel rows in'each side member 38, receiving pegs 48 which support a shelf 50. corners of the side members 38 with the result that the section normally hangs at a forwardly inclined angle with respect to the sides [0. Thus the books are presented so that they may be inspected by one looking down at them from above, and this eliminates the necessity for stooping over to find a book on one of the lower shelves.

A stop 52 of triangular section is secured to the base l4 and cooperates with a similar stop 54 secured to the bottom of the lower shelf 42.

.When the hanging shelf section is pushed. into vertical position, the stops meet, and the hanging When it is desired to remove one The rod 36 runs through the upper front section may be held in place by knobs or turn buttons 56 secured to the side members In. The movable lower section i of such width or depth as to fit in flush relation within the bookcase frame with its back 44 substantially in contact with the back I8 of the frame. I also contemplate substituting a spring latch for the knobs 56, and doubtless many other means for holding the swinging section within the main case will su gest themselves. It will be apparent that all the books in the bookcase illustrated can be clearly viewed and conveniently removed and replaced from a normal eye vision position at the front of the bookcase when the lowermost compartment 38 is tilted outwardly-forwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 2,

Having thus described my invention -what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,

A bookcase of the type described, comprising a housing embodying spaced and parallel side walls extending vertically to a substantial height from the floor, a box-like book-holding section within the lowermost portion of the housing adjacent to the floor and embodying spaced and parallel side walls respectively adjacent'to the said side walls of the housing and cooperating bottom and rear walls for supporting books in vertical position, means pivotally supporting the book-holding section on and within the housing for movement about an axis extending through the top front corner portions of the side walls of said section and on which pivotal support the section normal- 1y hangs i om d ean with it bottom p tion swung outwardly-forwardly of the housing, means for holding the section swung back into the housing, and a plurality of relatively spaced and horizontal book-holding shelves between and supported on the side walls of the housing above the said lowermost portion thereof, the arrangement being such that all books in the bookcase can be clearly viewed from a normal eye vision level at the front and books removed and replaced from a normal standing position when said section i5 swu to its position outwardly-forwardly o theh s n CHARLES H. w. FOSTER. 

